the streak ends

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cookiegal
cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
edited June 2014 in Lymphedema

I have been at one of my part time jobs since November, yesterday was the first time someone asked me about the sleeve. (It's a big office and everyone is busy?) It's funny, the guy walked by and asked me something about basketball, but I had no idea what he meant, so I asked him today. Still yea for 3 months with nobody asking or noticing.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2013

    Most of those who do not know me (or Hubby thus knowing 'me') who will ask anything seem to think that either I had a bad burn (compression garments are used to reduce scaring)  or it is for heart problems (DUH - right hand/arm ususlly has nothing to do with heart issues!)

    3 months NOBODY noticed - WRONG!  They noticed - can't hepl but notice.

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  • hugz4u
    hugz4u Member Posts: 2,781
    edited February 2013

    Cookiegal, Maybe you have a very good work enviroment with polite mature people and they are refraining from asking. I hope that is the case.Wink In any rate I am happy for you, I know you and I have issues on the dreaded sleeve look. Well I could almost let the sleeve anxiety go but the gross glove I can't get over.

    Test drove my black Jobst bella strong with beige glove over a green tee shirt at a hospital lab today. Because the people were so bored waiting for their lab work to be done they naturally honed in on my arm.Embarassed But I had not sat right next to someone so I guess they didn't dare raise their voice to ask. But.....yup they were looking. Maybe the green tee was to much of a contrast with the black sleeve. Not sure.Undecided I decided next time someone asks I am going to say. "Are you sure you want to know" If they say, yes, then I am going to simply say "Cancer" I bet they will never ask again.Surprised I still like "shark bite".  I could use this one because someone at my work site, (not in my dept) did get bit by a shark many years ago vacationing so they would all understand.Wink

    Anyway the labgirl asked me twice about my foot draw. The first time when I was answering she cut me off then the 2nd time I got out the word lymphedema and she blurted out "oh I know" and changed the subject. hummmm. Strange behaviour.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited February 2013

    It is so much easier in the winter, I wear a lot of black so with the black barton carey it is not so awful, but I can't wear the black in the summer or even direct sun in the winter

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited February 2013

    Cookie, I suspect the reason you've had such a successful 3-month run is because you weren't thinking about it as much, maybe because you were more absorbed in your job? Maybe because it's a big office? I don't know, just seems to me our self-consciousness attracts unwanted attention, and when we get absorbed in something else it's less noticeable to others as well.

    Anyhow, congrats on a great 3 months--may the next 3 be the same!
    Binney

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited April 2013

    so this was kind of funny.....there was a new freelancer I had not been introduced to...and he called out "firefighting injury?"

    When people say dumb stuff, I give them the truth.

    So I told him what it was, and then he was like, by the way we haven't been introduced...blah blah blah.

    It's funny I was in a rush the other day and my glove got lost in a sink...so I asked someone to help me find it and had to explain what it was for. When I am matter of fact about it people seem to deal better.

    Also I have always been really overly sensive about having my photo taken with the glove, but someone took one the other day and I just dealt with it.

    and so it goes

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  • Binney4
    Binney4 Member Posts: 8,609
    edited April 2013

    Cookie, good for you!Smile

    And I love the "firefighting injury" comment too--might just have to use that sometime.Laughing

    Thanks for this heartening post!
    Binney

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  • purple32
    purple32 Member Posts: 3,188
    edited April 2013

    I'm wih hugz

    The sleeve is one thing (hey, I could actually wear long sleeves all summer if I chose to) but wearing a  glove indoors is a horse of a different color.

    I have an acquaintance who is an especially rude man. I dont much care for him.  He stopped into my workplace last week , looked at my hand and said <in a snide way> :


    "Fashion Statement?!"
    I said: "Nope."
    Hand Injury?"
    I said: "Nope."
    "Burn?"
    I said: " Nope "
    He said: "Problem?"
    I said : "Not for me "
    He said : Not saying?"
    I said: "Nope."

    End of story.

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited April 2013

    purple, good for you. Since I need people to understand why have to avoid carry heavy gear on one side, at work I usually go for disclosure.

    I am pleased to say it has just not been a big deal at the new job, I liked my old boss but I think she liked to focus on what I couldn't do rather than what I could. I think it was just her personality, not really personal, we are still friendly.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited April 2013

    cookiegal, it looks as though you've found the balance of matter-of-factness and humor for your workplace, congratulations!

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  • cookiegal
    cookiegal Member Posts: 3,296
    edited April 2013

    thanks mods!

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  • Marple
    Marple Member Posts: 19,143
    edited April 2013

    Well handled Purple.  Love it.

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  • ahdjdbcjdjdbkf
    ahdjdbcjdjdbkf Member Posts: 645
    edited April 2013

    I took a day off from my sleeve due to an important meeting at work today. I didn't want to deal with it or wear long sleeves. I live in Florida. I will go home and put it on and do my exercises and therapy tonight. I needed to feel "normal" for one day today. Back to the sleeve...

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2013

    Just in case anyone was wondering about the basketball comment, elite basketball players do wear arm compression to keep their arms warm and to control swelling and keep their muscles properly positioned.  Here is a link:

    http://www.compressionsleevesforarms.com/basketball_arm_sleeves/

    mariasnow - I feel ya on the sleeve-wearing in Florida - I am already too hot between the hot flashes and the weather!

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